GUEST BOOK 1999

We invite you to add your thoughts, ideas and comments about this website, the book Kurdistan: In the Shadow of History, or the traveling exhibition. After eight years of touring, the exhibit was displayed for the last time in Paris at the Hotel de Ville during the summer of 2004. An excerpt of the original show was presented at the International Center for Photography in New York, September 19, 2008–January 4, 2009; and at the Zilkha Gallery at Wesleyan University, Fall 2008.

Please note: we reserve the right to edit comments for inappropriate and/or profane language.

Please note, we reserve the right to edit
comments for inappropriate and/or profane language.

I was sent some interesting information. Is
this true. Kurds Another little-known group outside Syria consists
of 142,000 stateless Kurds in northeastern Syria. Although
the Syrian government has registered them, it denies them citizenship,
despite their strong claims. Consequently, although they carry
no passports and cannot travel outside Syria. Kurds are denied
the rights and benefits of Syrian citizens. Syria disenfranchised
this group in 1962, saying they were "alien infiltrators." In
a 1996 report, Human Rights Watch said, that Syria had a policy
in Northwestern Syria, to identify people who were not Arabs.
The group is divided into 175,000 people, classified as "foreigners" and
75,000 termed maktoumeen, meaning "unregistered." The former
are issued red identity documents, which prevent them from
owning land, practicing certain professions, receiving food
subsidies, being admitted to public hospitals, or having legally
recognized marriages to Syrian citizens. The latter are issued
no documents at all. Maktoumeen are the children (grandchildren,
etc.) of "foreigners," including foreigners who marry women
who are Syrian citizens. it served part of a comprehensive
plan to "Arabize" northeastern Syria. Doesn't this sound like
the Nurembergs laws

I am in need of information on the history and development (or not as the case may be) on Kurdistan and the different kurdish political parties in the twentieth century. Any information would be greatly appreciated. thank you

This site is beautiful both in concept and design, thank you for constructing it. I am also impressed that a space has been provided for the dialogue that is occurring in this comments page. It is critical that we hear the many opinions, there being not one, nor two sides, but obviously a multiplicity that make resolution of the 'Kurdish issue' so difficult. The success of many Kurds, politically and financially within Turkey, as Turkish citizens, must not blind us to the very real poverty of eastern Turkey. The lack of funds being successfully channeled into education and social services in this part of the country limits the ability of many, of both Turkish and Kurdish ethnicity, to fulfill their potential. With sadness and embarrassment i read the submission of a fellow Turk (oguzhan: nov. 21). The demand is a common one. Many times i have heard the racist and historically inaccurate cry from even educated Turks, that the Kurds 'Go back where they came from'. Kurds are not Arab, nor Persian. Their ancestors toiled the Mesopotamian plain for millennia before the arrival of the Turks. Although in our politically complex world, this claim does not automatically lead to the right for an independent nation, the Kurds should not be denounced en masse as enemies to the state, and should be at least allowed a voice-- in their own language-- both in political and artistic arenas; publications, broadcasts, education. Turkey was formed as a nation state, and as such required the pretense of a homogenous population. It is time that we now recognise imposed homogeneity to be harmful, not only to the members of repressed cultures, but to all of us who would benefit from cultural diversity, multiple histories, some so beautifully represented in these photographs. The internet finally allows a discourse that is free from the propaganda and censoring machine of the State, and i encourage all individuals educated in the biased Turkish education system to utilise all resources to learn the many histories of our not-so-innocent nation. As one contributor pointed out, we are a proud people. Let us understand the misdeeds of our forefathers so as to ask forgiveness when appropriate and justifiably present an image of honor to the rest of the world.

Submitted by: caglaDate: December 19, 1999

Very interesting and informative site - thank you. Unfortunately there is no representative in Australia for the Kurdish people. A pity, as I'm sure that I'm not the only person here who wants to help with monetary donations for medicals etc. If you know of local contacts, please let me know. And well done on a supurb site! Sincerely, Philip Feinstein

Date: November 28, 1999E-mail: philipf@bigpond.com

Listen Turks and pro-Turks: We do not deny that Kurds in Turkey achieve high status in politics, in entertainment, etc. We do not deny that revolutionists or "terrorists" as you like to refer them as, committed murders in Turkey. We do not deny that the Kurdish language has many dialects. We do not deny that Kurds are not united. THE FACT REMAINS THAT TURKEY COMMITS SOCIAL AND CULTURAL OPPRESSION AND ETHNIC GENOCIDE OF THE KURDS! WHAT DO YOU EXPECT WHEN ONE IS OPPRESSED? A PARTY?

I am very sorry to see that Kurdish nationalism is not different than Turkish one. Indeed is there any difference between the nationalisms? I wonder what Armenians will say about this map? They think that some places are their own. I support free Kurdistan because this uncivilized and poor people must leave Turkey. They are getting worst the western part of Turkey. They must live with Arabians and Persians not with us. In addition, Turkey must put visa for them to pass through Turkey. And they must leave Istanbul, Izmir and other major cities. Turkey must give them money to set up their state and close the borders to them. We dont want to live with us.

Submitted by: oguzhanDate: November 21, 1999Subject: We dont want to live together

It's the first time I visit this site. I've just taken a look at the othrs comments. I come from Greece. I have a question for all you my friends: WHY is there so much hate against Greek people? You think it's us who gave Otsalan to the Turks? I'm sorry my friends, but the last think I would like to do in this world is to do that! We - Greek people - can feel your fight against the Turks. We support you in this battle. You don't remember that 150,000 people demonstrated in Athens few months ago against the Turks and for the freedom of Kurds? Because our goverment is unable to handle such important themes, does it mean that all the Greek people agree with what the goverment did? You all know that behind the arrest of Otsalan is the Secret Services of USA. Who do you think 'delivered' Otsalan to the Turks? So, please we think of you as friends and as a nation which fights for it's freedom. We know how it is, we fought against Turks too to get our freedom. So, tell us: Do you want us for an ally? We sure want you...

I've wanted for months now to express my gratitude to you for making this information readily available to myself and the rest of the ignorant public. I spent the summer in Athens working with Kurdish refugees in a camp, and had the opportunity to visit the exhibit and learn what I never would have otherwise known about a people group that I grew to love dearly. I was faced with how little I knew, and even still, how little is known. The book has been an incredible resource for myself and everyone who sits down to flip through it. Thank you for it, and thank you for all of the difficult work that went into piecing together the fragmented history of the Kurds. Is the exhibit not a traveling one?

Submitted by: HayleyDate: November 14, 1999E-mail: haylebop@aol.com

i am a kurd so i thank you for preparing this site, but you are making a mistake. do not forget that our religion is the most important part of our culture. you can be atheists but you don't have the right to show all kurds as atheists or socialists. in contrast, many kurds were (and are) very good muslims. thank you.

Submitted by: a young kurdDate: november 12, 1999E-mail: erutbil@yahoo.com

Hello,I am a Kurdish girl, who lives in Holland. I think it is great that you have done something like this.

Submitted by: RojanDate: November 11, 1999

your site is so powerful and so wonderful. as a palestinian and as a human, my heart swells when i see something like this. it's such a great idea and so, so important. thank you. i hope the kurdish people and the palestinian people will find their place in the world. and may we continue to fight for it by not allowing our history to be erased, wiped out or controlled by others.Date: October 31, 1999

me, as a student from colombia would like to have more information abaut the current conflict you are having with your neighbors. So please, if you can, send me more details or sort of link that could help me to this address: federrico@starmedia.com thank you so much.

Kurdistan belongs to the Kurds as Turky belongs to the Turks. Turky with aims of its allies can't longer oppress 20 millions Kurds. USA is based on state terrorism and because of that unhuman mentality the governments of USA have helped Turky to terror Kurds and Armanians. So shame on you who say Turky is your friends.

Submitted by: AsoDate: October 22, 1999E-mail: aso34@hotmail.comSubject: An anwser to friends of Turks

My comment to all kurdish,And my hope for their feature they can get their freedom back.

Submitted by: jamal taheirDate: October 21, 1999

You better believe that map is contested. What is its purpose? To include all Kurdish people, or to allow access to the sea for a future Kurdistan? Well, it is obviously the second, becuase, from about Kirmanshah down the land is Lor. Some Kurds may like to claim the Lors, and Lorestan as part of Kurdistan, but, sorry to inform you, we do not consider ourselves Kurds. Why? Because we are not. True, we may have similar origins(as due all other Iranic peoples) and cultural practices. But, 1000 years of development has rendered us a different people. Kurdish is North-Western Iranian, and Lori is South-Western Iranian, it is more similar to Farsi than Kurdish. Anyway, a revision of your map(why do you use a map from the turn of the century?)is necessary to satisfy all non-imperialist claims, if that is your true intention.

Submitted by: D AskariDate: October 19, 1999E-mail: DAskari@msn.comSubject: Lorestan is not part of Kurds

great site! finally a Kurdish site which has been recently
updated.I myself am not Kurdish or Turkish, I am a girl from
Denmark studying Arabic language and culture. I know both Kurds
and Turks, but must admit that the Syrian Kurds I know are
the most giving, warm and hospitable people I've ever met.
Why don?t you have more information about them. Otherwise I
must say I?m strucked by the ignorance of some people when
I read these comments. UN has since World War 1 where they
promised the Kurdish people their own state, ignored the Kurdish
problem. AND ALL BECAUSE OF MONEY! Don't be kidding yourself
the world is run by money, and as long as the rich countries
can see the benefit of a divided Kurdistan, it will not be
united. And I'm not sure if I even want to go as low as cdetain
people, but it has to be said, Turkish language is made from
Arabic, Persian and KURDISH, so not even the language is genuine,
and further more how can Turkish people defend the Turkish
government/army when even Turks aren't treated right. I could
keep going on, but I must say to you Kurds, as long as USA
needs Turkey in their plan on "controlling" Iraq it can seem
as a hopeless fight, but don't give up we are some other people
in other countries trying to fight for you. I would like to
get in touch with people with the same interest - please contact
me. By the way there is a Danish book written about the Kurds
in Turkey, it isn't pro-kurd nor pro-turk, but even how the
authors got banned from Turkey.

I would like to thank the editor and the others , who worked on this comprehensive work on the kurdish history, I have seen the book and I was very pleased, like a kurd, like an educated kurd who feels the shortage of our library from such kind of books. As a work,it can not be critisized, because no one has done it before, so there is no comparative material.This work is like saving someone from death, it is like khidri zindu for the kurdish history. I would like to thank you again from bottom of my hart and please don't give up, I am sure one day your name will be written on the pages of kurdish history, the one which will be written by the kurds themselves. Bizhi kurd, bizhi Kurdistan

I just can say you have an EXCELLENT site. I hope you will continue building and enlarging this site to be an archive to our people. You are a hope to save a lot of documents about Kurdish, their history and and life. Please keep up good work. Thank you VERY much

I AM A KURD WHO IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO NOW LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES. I AM INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING THAT MAY GIVE ME INFORMATION ABOUT MY HOME COUNTRY SINCE I HAVEN'T BEEN HOME IN 28 YEARS. I WILL BE READING YOUR BOOK AND HOPING TO SEE THE THINGS THAT ONLY MY MEMORIES CAN FEEL BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG TO ACTUALLY REMEMBER. I AM INTERESTED BECAUSE ONE DAY I WOULD LIKE TO GO HOME TO VISIT, BUT I AM AFRAID OF THE POLITICAL SITUATION AS WELL AS THE DANGERS THAT ARE INHERENT WITH TRAVEL IN AREAS THAT HAVE HAD SO MANY YEARS OF INTERNAL TRAUMA. THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS WEB SITE. IT WOULD BE OF TREMENDOUS VALUE TO ME IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ANY OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON KURDISTAN. IT IS ONLY RECENTLY THAT I HAVE BEGAN TO LOOK INTO THE INTERNET AND HAVE VERY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF HOW AND WHERE TO LOCATE WEB SITES OR HOW TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION IN THE MAIN LIBRARIES BY ACCESS VIA INTERNET.

Thank You for the book and the website on Kurdistan. I see our "brothers" the Turkish Internet police have reverted to their old tricks of posting tons of irrelevant material. Most of them are posted under pseudo French names, none of them posting their emails. Most such material reflects fear and ugliness. How about some beauty, harmony, peace, brotherhood? The Turks vehemently deny that Kurdistan ever exited. They deny that Kurds are a nation. They deny that Kurdish is a language. Let them deny. Everyone is free to believe in their own ideals. What makes a homeland a homeland is the memories carved in the tissues of the brain. We the Kurds have memories of Kurdistan, Kurdish way of life, its culture and language. The beauty of our homeland in every season is woven in our carpets, kilims and emenies. What we have learned over millenia is woven in our folk tales, stories and songs. Our proverbs tell us how to conduct our lives, behaviour and business (though we do the contrary :--)). This homeland neatly tucked in our memories and lives cannot be taken away. As to our mountains and valleys, rivers and waterfalls, barren and fertile lands, you may drive your tanks and armored personnel carriers; drop 2000lb bombs from supersonic jets. You may flood it with 300,000 soldiers and put a death squad in every town to nip Kurdish youth. This homeland is stil not yours. For, while there, you hate its winters, you hate its people, you hate every bit of it. That is why no one moves from Istanbul or Ankara into the Kurdish region. The state has to doubble the salary of its officers, teachers to keep them, but most resign within a year and coose a different profession rather than being stuck to this god-forsaken land. Even if we say, here it is yours go move into it, you will not. So what is the deal? Why to turn Kurdish life into Hell? Why to kill so many young men and women? And most of all, why don't you deal with your own fears? Ask yourself always: Why am I afraid of the Kurds? This is your homework for a year. Ask yourself at least twice daily: Why am I afraid of the Kurds. You will find out that you are afraid of death, your own death. Kurds are just an excuse, a distractor from this ever welling fear of death deep within you. This fear turns you into an angel of death and you go take poor people's lives. Wheras, we all can live together or side by side as neighbors in peace. If you do not have salt or a couple of eggs, come to my home, I will give them to you. Shall you need an extra cooking pot when having large number of guests, come to my house and barrow my pot. Now, those who fake so many names to spew anti-Kurdish propoganda, sit down and take a deep breath. Look at the beauty of life, its interconnectedness, its harmony and colors. Look at the buzzing bees and chirping crickets. Listen, you can enjoy this life for a brief period called your own life. Enjoy it because you are a mortal and the angel of death is waiting just around the corner. Stop this mass histeria about the Kurds seperating or not seperating from "your homeland". Treat them right and then, you may have the right to say a few words....Be kind or you will ruin your day in anger... De ma xatire we...U Kurdno...hun chi bikin bikin, xwe van xunxweran xelaz kin!...

Dear susan! forst iam kurd from Irag and your site about kurdistan is wounderfull and very good informaton about kurdish people. Iwant to answer this people as left masege about kurdish people I THINK itis people and human site not facist or nazizt site Iknow many of this people is dog from ENglan. you most lear yot some think ENGLAND IS A TRORIST COUNTRY. THE HAVE KOLONIST NORTH IRLAND WITH THIS TRORR.

Submitted by: KHAKED RABINDate: September 15, 1999E-mail: khaled_ranin@hotmail.comSubject: answer to this seek people

A great site and a wonderful use of the web as a gathering place for the displaced. Do you know of other web sites that function in similiar ways - producing a space for displaced people and becoming a site of the cultural memory and recovery?

The message send by one called Marc, entitled "Wake up Kurds" is
an insult to all the Kurds. Furthermore, accuses the US for
supporting Turkey. Well, US did a lot for establishing a state
in Northern Irak. After the debacle 3000 CIA Kurds were to
be evacuated to an American base in Guam. US did more then
necessary. Kurds do not want independence. They want to live
where they are but in better conditions. Greeks used them against
Turkey and burned their fingers and burned Kurds too. Look
at APO (Ocalan) who used to receive all Greek delegations with
a lot of military aid and financial support. Greeks now handed
him to Turkey and tries to be friends again with their Turkish
neighbours. Turkish Kurds are happy to live in Turkey. In fact
they are the most better off. Kurds become presidents prime
moinisters ministers and almost 38 per cent of Turkish Parliament
are Kurds. Not bad huh? In a country where their percentage
is below 7 per cent they are over represented. But nobody discriminates
against anybody in Turkey. If you are citizens of the country
you are TURKISH. This is not ethnic but political link. Thats
great system. Now, Ocalan under arrest, he surrenders his terrorist
gangs and terrors should stop. You OUTSIDERS dont put your
nose in Kurdish matters. We Kurds are capable of settling our
problems. We must apologize to our Turkish brothers for the
acts of the PKK murderers.

As long as you Kurds are divided, and as long as the U.S. goverment is dumping BILLIONS of American peoples taxpayer money and sending arms and military advisors to this so called artificial country(Turkey), you Kurds will see not an inch of your ancestral lands which are currently occupied, usurped and its people driven away and massacred in the southeastern hinterlands where they are constantly harrased and subjected to inhumane treatment.Wake up. Remember "United YOU stand,Divide YOU disappear". Remember what the Turks call you? ( Turks of the mountains).You Kurds were there long before these marauders appeared from the East.You Kurds have to do several things to influence the public opinion of the people of the United States: A.A strong public relations office staffed with highly paid lobbiests. Surely you have rich Kurds who could supply money to keep such an office running. B.Do not sit and watch these Barbarians(The Turks)make up false accusations against the freedom fighters who are fighting against a monstrous army. The 30,000 people who died in eastern Kurdistan were 97.5% Kurds(According to the French intelligence),and these Kurds were intentionally killed by the Barbarians,the Turks. C.Unfortunately for the suffering peoples of the world,the U.S. goverment time and again supports murderous goverments all over the world.It still is a mystery...WHY? D.Remember the good old American saying " MONEY TALKS AND B.S. WALKS ". Start talking , remember the Turks are buying American politicians with their powerful lobby, even though these same politicians know the TRUTH (Turks time and again murdered whole peoples,i.e. Armenians,Greeks, Arabs and now it is your turn,you the Kurds. E.Untie the clannish life you have,no TRIBE should exist without the UNION of all the tribes.One voice,one say,one people. F.Lastly,do not print comments send by Kurd haters(Your site was 80% anti-Kurd sentiment filled). Wake up, do not play into their hands,pretty soon this site will be the official organ of the Murderous Turks. And remember that the majority of the ordinary people here in the U.S. support you,the Kurds. But we can not help you if you are so naive and ignorant of the fact that by printing anti -Kurd sentiments you yourselves are helping the Turks.Wake up and put a STOP to lies and false propagand reports by the murderers of your people. Good Luck.

Dear Susana, With great pleasure and satisfaction and admiration l have seen your book, all kurdish poeple must be grateful to you for your important work, for our identity process, l permit myself to thank you in the name of all kurdish poeple. God bless you KHASRO PIRBAL AL-KASSAB ARBIL/ KURDISTAN ADMINISTRATION IN THE NORTH OF IRAQ

Submitted by: KHASRO PIRBALDate: September 3, 1999E-mail: pirbal@artic.netSubject: kurdistan in the shadow of his

This is a powerful site. I was born outside of Boston, Massachusetts and have no connection to Kurdistan but am trying to create a site much like this important place you have here on the web. I am trying to collect stories from people about the places that they connect to in their communities, the physical and the abstract senses of place. Place-narratives. I believe the barriors that separate many people are solidified by a lack of understand of where people are at, what is important to them. The internet has an unparalleled opportunity to write a more authentic diverse voice of the people who inhabit this planet, the people the hierarchy tends to censor. If you could let me know how you developed this site, specifically the aspects of collecting images from people via the web site I would be thankful.

Submitted by: Tomasz BanaszewskiDate: August 28, 1999E-mail: tbanaszewski@sch.ci.lexington.ma.usSubject: PLEASE more sites like this

Congratulations. An excellent work. In the era of videogames a great reivindication of photography and political compromise.

I strongly condemn such stupid propoganda against our staunch ally Turkey. Without Turkey western defece was not possible for last forty years. Today, they are an extremely important regional power. Besides, I lived there two years and I know well that they do not mistreat kurds in any bad way. Their former Commander of land Forces General Bitlis was akurd. So you cannot cheat anybody. R. Armstrong ret. Col USAF

As a Kurdish/Turkish and English speaking citizen of Turkey I am ashamed of all these so called kurdish ploys. We are happy in Turkey. We do not want anything else. Turks are more honest then anybody else. Look at Ocalan. He is a farce. Look at Barzani or Talabani. They dont trust each other. Would you? Look at Iran-big mess. They used us. Look at the Russians. Who established PKK anyway? Greeks oh yes, they are the most, yes most...in the world. No wonder they have such a reputation. They think they are smart. Everybody hates them even in the common market (EC). We want to live in Turkey with Turks in peace. Leave us alone. Turks are at least honest. If they say something you know they keep their word. Stop this Kurdistan farce. You have no right to speak on our beahlf. Neither did the PKK-mention it in PKK post mortem/

Greeks blame everything on the US. Cyprus was an American ploy. So was the Ocalan affair. They may claim the US has tricked them. Huh. They are so stupid. They have destroyed all hopes for PKK which they have doctored-supported. They will have a heavy burden to pay. Now, they are scared to death and flirt with Turkey. We should be more careful in selecting our allies. But didn't have much choice, did we?

I thought that the Greeks were so clumsy that they could not handle the President of PKK. But what you write makes sense. If they indeed handed over Ocalan to the other side they should pay a heavy price. In any case they should pay a price even if they were negligent or simply stupid..

Your previous contributor is correct. There was a secret deal between Greece and Turkey to hand over Ocalan. That could best be achieved in far away places like Kenya. That is what happens if you have such an unreliable ally like Greece. Sold the Kurdish gangster to Turkey. I wonder how much money PANGALOS and the other so called "ministers" received for this special present to Turkey? Why do you think they all had to resign. Thats a good SHAME for Greece for years to come. They did betray NATO in Kosova but they are such a wishy washy people now act in the forefront. KURDS WILL NEVER FORGET GREEK TREASON. THEY WILL PAY FOR IT

Mr. Kemal (from Dallas, Texas, USA) has written an excellent commentary for your web site. With one exception- and that may be because he is somewhat far away from the region. He thinks or implies, if he is not joking of course, that there will be or there might be an independent Kurdistan someday in the future. No, Mr. Kemal! You can be sure that there will never be such a thing. I assume you are simply joking. People I met in Turkey, many who are of ethnic Kurdish origin deplore the PKK and they love Turkey and just like you they are proud of being a citizen of Turkey. Look around at all the rich people in Turkey from Toprak Holding to Selahattin Beyazit-trillionaires are of Kurdish origin. Look at famous singers. Almost all of Kurdish origin. So many of Turkish and Kurdish mixed marriages has changed over the centuries. Yes, you are right there will always be some terrorist movements. As long as Syria, Iraq, and Iran all the weirdos of the region with Greece, sometimes UK and Germany will support them. As a foreigner I can tell you your country Turkey is so strong, based on such solid, strong KEMALIST principles that nobody can have a square inch from Turkey. You are right all the outsiders will continue to use some terrorist-narcotics traders type organisations. But remember, first of all and that is most important you can not find even a thousand in Turkey who want independent Kurdistan. Kurds are against it more than anybody else.

Submitted by: Jacques SchneiderDate: July 16, 1999Subject: That will never happen !!!!!

Greece will pay for its betrayal to Kurdish cause. They have sold us to Turks. There is a heavy price to pay. They have encouraged our leaders to start an uprising against Turkey. They provided money. They gave facilities for training. They have encouraged immigrants to go via Greece to Germany as refugees for political asylum. They have trained our guerilla for military action against Turkish tourist sites. Why? Beacuse of us? No ! Beacuse Turkey is a rival. They want those tourists not to go to Turkey, but come to Greece. I know well some of friends were trained in bomb explosions and how to start forest fires. Greek generals came to our Bekaa Valley Mahsun Korkmaz Academy. Politicians atteneded our Congress. Pangalos and the rest gave all encouragement. BUT they did not even allow our President a short sojourn in Athens. Sent him to Africa and handed him over to Turkish agents. This is Greece. All Kurds now understand the real face of Greeks. But they will pay a very heavy price. Wait and see. Turks have been nicer to us. At least they are honest and don't cheat. They tellto your face what they think without any wishy washy.

Your title, or head line : "Kurdistan: A Shadow of History" is actually misleading. It sounds like or gives the impression that there was an entity under that name in the history. The shadow of which you are talking about. But there was never, ever any entity under that title. Never, ever. So what is this shadow? It is totally false and misleading. In any case what you try to do is to create anew entity.. Why? Who are you? What is behind your organization? Is it British Secret Service? What are your aims? There is not even a language called Kurdish. There are five different dialects my friends who work in the University tell me. Or are you enjoying part of the drug money?

Submitted by: Judith ReeseDate: July 14, 1999Subject: There wasnt even a shadow !

Webmaster Note: The name of the book is KURDISTAN: In the Shadow of History.

You have made a good service by this web-site! Actually, from the messages sent to your column, one can understand that the general public opinion now, is fully aware of the terrorist nature of PKK and that Ocalan is a bloody terorist. This may not have been among your original aims BUT the contributions from general public, clearly demonstrate that there is a greater awareness of the destructive nature of PKK and its murderous efforts. I can fully understand why Turkish people do not understand the so called westerners bias towards Turkey. We must be honest. We in the UK and elsewhere in Europe have been very unfair towards this important country TURKEY. I am ashamed of the fact thet our Governments and the so-called NGO s with mostly Governments guidance and actual financial support, helped this terrorist movement. Turkey, I must admit, I admire the determination and decisiveness that they demonstrated- once again made us fail? Its as strong as ever. Today, after completing a successful military action against PKK they are the strongest military force in the region. Turkey and the southeastern part could be more right and developed had there been no such Kurdish terror-supported by not only us the Europeans, but also Syria, Iraq and Iran. I read in a reliable source that PKK was established by active support of Mr Primakov when he was head of the Soviet KGB. No wonder! UK, Germany and Madam Mitterand and the rest, we should admit that we were unfair, we tried to divide Turkey by our so called humanatarian support via NGOs and the BBC and the Federal Constitutional Protection Agency in Germany- all our hands smell blood- the PKK blood. Turks should not only forgive the Kurds but also us.

Submitted by: Mary NicholsonDate: July 13, 1999Subject: We have been unfair to Turks!

Some of the photos included in your file is not representing Kurdish tribes or Kurdish people but have been definitely identified to belong either to Turkmen groups in Northern Iraq or Assyrians, among others. Although, sociologically and from an antropologists point of view, your efforts could be regarded as a contribution to researchers, unfortunately, because of the randomly collected material with no substantial credibility as to its sources you have been misled. You can not establish a repertoire of photos on such a random basis. This is in fact an insult to serious researchers and academicians. The photos and people therein have nothing to do with the descriptions given.

Being a working journalistic photographer here in Asia, this site seems so necessary as to inspire not compliments but individual action and personal empathy of the most direct kind. More power and ability to you all.

TO Mr Svensson ; Your sensitivity and seriousness about the map they purport to draw is correct and highly appreciated. BUT this map is so stupid that the towns they mark on this piece of paper is hundreds of kilometers away from where they actually are. According to the map, Elazig is very near to Black Sea which makes people laugh. It is remarked in a previous message that these efforts are made on behalf of imperialist countries which wish to change the status quo to their favour.Thats correct. Somewhere it says the map was presented to a conference in San Fransisco! So what? It was rejected of course...Such efforts like this web site is an illegitimate, illegal mala fides action. Furthermore, it is so incorrect and misleading that even the location of towns are not known by the people who make them. So it can not be taken seriously at all. Its a Mickey Mouse map!

"Kurdistan"? Is it Disneyland type of thing that you are referring to? Disneyland sounds like a state-doesnt it? To have a special page for a non-existent identity is rather strange. You may be referring to the Iranian province called with this name. On the other hand Balujistan is not an independent state. The map you are giving is not correct and has no basis whatsoever. It is a flagrant violation of international law to draw a map which transgresses the existent borders. MAPS ARE SERIOUS MATTERS. THEREFORE DO NOT DRAW STUPID MAPS AS YOU SEEM TO DO. You can not violate international treaties which gives recognition to such borders some even going back to 1639. The ma and other remarks should be withdrawn from this text.

Italian Parliament and politicians sem to be getting carried
away. it is true that Prime Minister is in bad shape in internal
political situation and he needs some important prestige projects.
Supporting NATO bombardement, though perfectly humanitarian
action-did not proove well to his former Communist party and
allies. Now ghow can he divert the attention. Well, he should
play the role of a person in defence of human rights and act
on behalf of depressed people. But he got a wrong item. The
terrorist PKK and its bloody leader Ocalan does not fit onto
that description. Italy will be defending a WRONG CAUSE and
at a WRONG PLACE. Our Italian friends should be well advised
not to take an action which will hurt our Turkish allies. ITALY
should know that Turks are very sensitive to these issues and
they do not like to be pushed around. If you really want to
save your beloved APO, its better to keep silent. There was
no execution in Turkley for almost twenty years. But if Mr.
D'Alleman continues his provocative statements with threats
and stupid approaches it will not only damage Turkish-Italian
relations but Italy will suffer tremendously from PKK terror.
Look at Greek example; They supported PKK, provided money,
armaments and training. Forest fires were started by PKK terrorists
trained in Greece. Bombers were strained there. Even anti aircraft
guns were provided. But February 16 and 17 all Greek embassies
were attacked. IT BACKFIRES. It wont take long that Italy will
face PKK terror even if now they seem to be having a honeymoon.
D'Allema is very successfull in destroying a very long and
sincere friendship. Remember when they received Ocalan as a
guest, even locally produced FIATs were not selling in Turkey.
So it will no doubt hurt Italian interests. Of course, our
Turkish friends are i telligent they wont have an official
boycott. But if they know Turks a little bit, no Turk or Kurd-majority
of them in Turkey are loyal citizens of the Republic- will
buy any Italian product. I have friends in Brussels who refuse
to go to their frequented Italian restaurants. WHAT IS ITALY
TRYING TO DO ? The Italian newspapers too, seem to be creating
stories which have nothing to do with reality. PM D'Alema or
Dini should meet their counterparts in Turkey and stop this
stupid escalation. PKK can not be a friend of Italy. Defending
terrorist-narcotically financed kurdish interests isa shame
for our real human rights supporters. The PKK is the murderer
of all rights. Ocalan admitted that he ordered his terrorists
to destroy even the chickens of kurdish villagers in Turkey
that stay loyal to the Turkish Government. Thus PKK cleared
many villages with all the innocent people; This is not Bennissimo
amigos.

Submitted by: Jean-Pierre BranqueDate: July 11, 1999Subject: Italy should be beware of dang

If you think that you can get a result by usurping the lands
of other countries and kill the innocent people like children,teachers
and villagers,you are badly wrong.If you are insistant to have
a country than try to request land from your dearest European
friends. Maybe they can give it as a present!!

Submitted by: a young Turk who loves her countryDate: July 8, 1999Subject: no country named Kurdistan

Mr. Pasternak- You should not be afraid of Kurds in Turkey.
Great majorIty of Kurds are loyal citizens of the country.
Few thousand can never represent the whole group. They are
not even one per cent. It is high time for us Turkish Kurds
to state clearly that we are against PKK and any sort of separatism.
We dont want to be classified as a MINORITY because we are
part of the majority with full rights. Why should I be a minority?
Turkey provides all the opportunities. Ah the language yes
but what language? I don't want my children to learn Zaza or
Sormanci and waste their time. They are primitive languages.
Even the so called Kurdish newspapers in Turkey are published
in Turkish up to 60 per cent. FOREIGNE POWERS SHOULD REFRAIN
FROM INTERVENING ON BEHALF OF US! WE ARE CAPABLE OF DEFENDING
OUR RIGHTS. WE DONT WANT THESE SO CALLED HUMAN RIGHTS PEOPLE
TO USE US AS THEIR INSTRUMENTS FOR THEIR IMPERIALIST AIMS.
Kurds are happy in Turkey and they simply make life more difficult
to us. Please dont make shade..Leave us alone.

It appears that Ocalan has lost control of his PKK bandits.
He calls on them not to have any violent actions but instead
PKK militants continue their terrorism. Ocalan, according to
Associated Press said that "PKK wants him to be hanged". It
sounds that is the truth. They want to have a new leader: While
APO is in prison and alive they cant get a new leader. The
money PKK has attracts a lot of interest. Hanging Apo will
create a new momentum for the PKK which is at the present time
lost all its energy, credibility even among its militants and
suffers from a great moral despression. Wouldnt it be better
for the Turkish Parliament not to approve his sentence? Well,
at first sight it does but on the other hand, no politician
can face Turkish public if they vote against the exezcution.
Ocalan is a terrorist responsible for hundreds of deaths. Children,
women and old men were killed by PKK. He admitted that he gave
orders to his militants "to kill even the chickens of villagers
who cooperate and support the Turkish Security Forces" Thus,
Ocalan killed kurdish speaking people in Turkey on the ground
that they were loyal to the Government and did not help PKK
terrorists. How can any country let such a murderer go unpunished?
Besides Council of Europe's claims against death penalty is
false. The European Convention of Human Rights clearly allows
death penalty in the article concerning RIGHT TO LIFE. The
optional protocol on the subject was not signed by Turkey.
Countries like Italy, having special resolutions about Ocalan
is not helping him. Everybody should know that our Turkish
friends do not like such pressures. Turks never act under pressure.
D'Alema knows this. So by creating such a big fuss he knows
these bla bla will back fire and will harm Ocalan. EU, Council
of europe and the rest should not in any way, shape or form
try to influence the judicial proceedings and the follow up
Parlimanetary decision. Turks will not appreciate such stupid
pressures. After all this man is a murderer, ruthless, brutal
terrorist. He is guilty of crimes against humanity. He deserves
the death penalty eventhough the undersigned is against death
penalty in case of Ocalan and Sakik there must be an exception.
Even if the death penalty would not exist, these mens actions
would make the responsible parties to promulgate the death
penalty.

Submitted by: George CrittonDate: July 7, 1999Subject: Crimes against humanity-Ocalan

By the way What is Hellenic American Union doing with the
so called "Kurdistan" book? (See the top announcement in this
COMMENTS portion.) This is an open confession that they support
the terrorist movement. Greece should learn that terrorism
backfires as the Kurds attacked and destroyed many Greek Embassies
on February 16 and 17th. They lost three ministers who were
up to their throat in the terrorism mud. What does the Greek
Embassies have to do with terrorism? Ocalan was hiding in Kenya...where?
Greeek Ambassadors Residence!!! Is Greece so low? Are Greeks
really so cowardly filthy? No, I dont believe so.. Few politicians
should not really represent the whole nation. But the sensible
Greeks should say enough is enough. How can you protect and
support your neighbours enemies? Just think what would happen
if Turkey follows the same line? Greece should get its act
together. Greeks should also display loud and clear that they
do not want their country to be behind TERROR in such a close
neighbour country. I believe many Greeks feel close to Turkey.
They should not tolerate weird politicians and fanatic clergymen.
If they want good neighbourly relations they should not support
fanatics. Turkey wants to be good friends like during ATATURK-VENEZILOS
time or Menderes-Karamanlis period where they signed Cyprus
Treaties destroyed by Makarios and Papandreou of 1964 grandfather
of the current Minister.

Has anyone watched how Turkish troops under KFOR entered Prizren
in Kosova? What a love what a solidarity! Kosovars said during
Ottoman time peace were at hand. Now, Turkish soldiers under
NATO command will help to reconstruct the towns while providing
security in the field. Has any other nationality received such
a warm welcome? Let me know if there is. Read the Reuter or
AP report where a German soldier spitted people saying thats
not my day.

TO Orhan Pasternak You should not be so disappointed my friend.
Turkish people is a noble people. We do not follow the racist
attitudes of our western European friends. We have always lived
with many different ethnic groups. Even Ottoman Ministers,
ambassadors included Greek, Armenian or Kurdish ethnic people.
Like today, we have so many parliamentarians, ministers etc.
Former presidents, PM s etc. Besides Turkey is like the US.
There are so many different ethnic groups. We are all linked
to the Republic of Turkey with citizenship ties. We are all
citizens of Turkey, thus Turks, but we may be different ethnic
origin. Some are cherkess, chechen some kosovar, albanian etc.
But all Turks. Kurdish progin people are ashamed of the PKK
terrorist. Now they realize that it is the outsiders that USED
them for their own aims. UK, Germany, Greece, Arabs (Syria,
Iraq! Iran etc. Look at the wat they betrayed them Ocalan was
expelled from Syria. Italians couldnt keep the terrorist more
then a months. Germany didnt even want to have him. Netherlands
refused all together. Belgian Air Force sent F16 s to push
his plane out. GREECE after so much support now talks otherwise.
Even Evert Miltiades says Apo and Kurds are cowards. Kurdish
realize now that their best friends are Turks and Turkey. The
rest used them and throw away like a squeezed lemmon. We Turks
sympathize with the kurds. Majority are against terrorist PKK.
So they regret. But what a slap on their face from Greece from
all the other supporters. German politicians went to talk to
him at Bekaa Valley. Now, they are worried for the peace and
laws and order in their country not the fate of Ocalan or kurds.
Many kurds now realize this mistake. The whole reason is the
following: Turkey became a large and influential regional power.
They use Kurds in order to weaken this REGIONAL POWER. Unfortunately
Kurds were used in this futile effort. Sure, Greece putting
down 100 million dollars damaged Turkey ten times more. Good
investment? Not really, they will also realize one day-hope
not too late that its their interest to be friends with Turks.
They may be educated by church and a chauvenistic education
system but inside they respect and regard Turkey highly. So
dont get dissappointed. Greeks, Kurds will also realize this
and will come to us. We will always respond with our traditional
goodwill.

Submitted by: Friendship and peaceDate: July 4, 1999Subject: Turks and Kurds are brothers

Turkey is a multicultural country. When I went to school my mates were Greek, Jew, Laz, Kurd, Bulgarian, Bosnian, Albanian, Macedonian, Yugoslav etc. 20 years later things have changed. When I travel in Europe nowadays I realize how much the Kurds (and other nations) have become enemy of me. They were my childhood friends: Nico, Leon, Cemal, Ahmed etc. Not anymore. They all want to see my blood. To be honest, I am afraid to write this because someone can come to kill me for what I am saying here. Therefore I will not give my real name. Excuse me for that. Paranoia? I don't think so. I am so sure the creators of this page are normal and educated Kurds with whom I could talk, but there are also the ordinary and uneducated Kurds (most of them, unfortunately - who is to blame for that?) who cannot talk, only fight. For example: 10 kms from my house a holiday village is being built. By Kurds. I cannot sit on that beach with my (English) wife because they come to bother us. I left Istanbul because the Kurds came and changed city life for me and all old Istanbullers and now they have come to even the Western countryside where I cannot communicate with them because they get angry with me because I cannot speak Kurdish (??!!). My opinion: give autonomy to the Kurds, BUT with a secure border line all around so they can be realy on their own with their own economy etc. And they will need to apply for a visa when they want to enter Turkey. At the same time Turkish government will save a lot of money that can be used to build up the infrastructure in the country (roads, telephone, electricity, hospitals, schools etc.). Last note: News about Kurds and PKK in the Western world is filtered and always in favour of the Kurds. Did you ever hear about a big bomb they found, just one hour before it should go off, at a big primary school in the centre of Bursa? The explosion would have killed 170 kids. On the very same day BBC World News only had a report about 2 PKK freedom fighters being killed by Turkish soldiers during a fight in the East of Turkey. (If something happens to me after writing this, my wife will let you know.)

To: L&A Lawlor- So your husband had a number of engineers working for him in the dam construction. Then you claim poverty is imposed on them. There are hundreds of Turkish millionaires-billionaires of Kurdish origin. Is it also imposed on them? Everybody has the same opportunity. Turkey has the greatest project of 30 billion dollars to build dams in the area of southeast. The region will be booming. It will be the bread basket of Middle East. Turks and Kurds are brothers and such romantic and dramatic remarks are not convincing. Ahmet Parlak

A note to Mr. McNamara- It is not the leader of Kurds that is sentenced to death penalty. It is the leader of a Marxist-Leninst terrorist organization called PKK-Kurdistan Workers Party- which has been involved in terrorist acts, based in syria with training camps at the Bekaa Valley, supported by Irak Iran and Russia. They killed many innocent civilians, most of the killed were Kurds who did not help the terrorist organization PKK. Kurds of Turkey hate this man called Apo or Ocalan. "He is a dictator" according to his attorney Mr Okcuoglu, himself a Turkish citizens with Kurdish origin. Ocalan is guilty of mass murders, village destruction, burning of all economic assets of southeastern Turkey. We Kurds of Turkey believe he deserves death penalty. The PKK was set up by the Soviet KGB when Mr Primakov was its head. Therefore the three terrorist state in the World according to US-Iran Irak and Syria were behind PKK. SO WAS GREECE HELPING the terrorists. Therefore three Greek ministers resigned. BUT now even Mr. Evert Militiades of New Democracy in Greece state that Ocalan is a COWARD and he didnt deserve their support. So justice is done with death penalty. But Turks are too kind. They dont want to execute him. They should free this man kurds will lynch him.

It is on the World News that the Kurdistan leader has been sentensed to death. I would like a brief history from the beginning of Kurdistan and how can the problem be settled today. Can you help me?

Submitted by: W.McNamaraDate: June 29, 1999E-mail: mcnamara@1hug.co.nzSubject: History of Kurdistan

This is a wonderful website: My husband had a number of Kurdish
workers, engineers, translators, etc. working for him in the
building trades in Afsin/Elbistan during the 1980s. They were
some of the best educated, sincere people and treated us both
with kindness and hospitality unmatched anywhere here in the
U.S.A., or in the many European countries we spent time in.
Their struggle is immense as is the discrimination and poverty
forced upon them. We saw the end result of this every day,
and our prayers are with them as well as with all of the Turkish
people whom we came to love and respect.

Submitted by: L&A LawlorDate: June 29, 1999Subject: Kurdish struggle

This is a beautiful site. I have told a lot of people about it, not just people who would be interested for ethnic reasons, but web developers and people in the web development industry. I think the design and concepts are wonderful. The colors are beautiful -- the images, everything! Congratulations on creating such a wonderful site. Beautiful to look at and one that will hopefully make such a difference in so many lives. Thank you! Mira Saxena

We were so much prejudiced that we did not think Ocalan trial would be fair. Turks have demonstrated an excellent fair trial with due process of law. Aren't we somewhat ashamed that we always act on our preconditioned minds? There were all sorts of foreigners watching. The Council of Europe team reported that the conditions of detention was fine and trial was fair. Everyone is convinced that he will get a death penalty. He has admitted all his crimes and even apologized. We Europeans are surprised. May be the stories about these kurds and Turks were all propoganda. And did you know the chief judge of the Court is from Adiyaman which is also ethnically Kurdish speaking area. So a Kurdish origin judge will give the sentence about Apo Ocalan. Surprise. We hope that "our Kurds" behave themselves. Their violence prooves that Turks were not acting without any reason.

Isnt it a futile exercise to talk about the so called kurdistan as if there is or there was ever such a country in this world of ours ? What are you trying to do ? Could every group of different ethnic background have its own country ? Of course not ! Its just romantic, may be even stupid if you excuse my language. Those of you who try to give this false impression to some kurds are really responsible for their fates. In fact GREECE has done a tremendous harm to these people. In fact, Greece was involved with PKK terror in order to weaken Turkey, our NATO ally and a very important strategic ally of the West, and especially the United States. Greece couldnt handle this fire ball and it exploded in its hands. Even Pangalos had to resign together with two other ministers. Kurdish terrorists now want to revenge this Greeek treason, betrayal and in fact some Greek secret service officials, are claimed that they received money from Turkey and actually SOLD Ocalan to agents from Ankara. Kurds say Greece will pay dearly for this. But it is not only Greece. All those socalled romantic human rights defenders who of course have nothing to do with human rights- they dont give a damn, they used kurds as their tools, pions.. Dont push those innocent Kurds into fire. You have done great harm to these guys? Mrs Mitterand and all the rest.. British Lord, BBC Service links to PKK, Steinbach and his Orient Institute Orchestra, German Secret Service and its representatives negotiating with PKK. You all made great damage to peace and understanding. You have cheated and misled the kurds. With warmest greetings

The kurdish terrorists have no excuse to protest against the judgement of the Court as Mr Ocalan has openly admitted that he is responsible for all the murders and extortion. Yes he apologized. Do you let him go ? He did not steal money, he killed thousands and cooperated with Syria, Irak and Iran. Later Greece and others. Thats treason. Even thiefs are not forgiven when they apologize.

Submitted by: Connie WebsterDate: June 26, 1999Subject: Do not protest against Judgem

Mousul and Kerkuk in Northern Irak was left outside the Lausanne Treaty of 1923 by the UK and immediately thereafter the London Government send horse loads of gold to local people to rebel against Turkey. THERE ARE MORE THAN A MILLION TURKMENS IN THE AREA BUT THAT WAS IGNORED. WITH THE UK SUPPORT KURDS REBELLED. OF COURSE THEY LOST BUT U K GOVERNMENT WON. THE AREA IN NORTHERN IRAK BECAME UNDER BRITISH RULE. Look at British documents and see how they admit that they achieved control and millions of tons of petroluem and money.Tactics used were interesting but KURDS WERE USED BY THE UK -Is history repeating itself ? Kurds can not achieve anything if they ignore the TURKMENS of Northern Irak. Why is the whole world talk about kurds in Irak but nobody mentions the TURKMENS. It is a shame that Turkey or Turkmenistan do not provide any substantial and meaningful support to Turkmens - but just words. Tarik Turkmenoglu

Dear Friends, The trial of A Ocalan has demonstrated that this man has no principles and betrayed his ideas and people. It is sad that hundreds of kidnapped, brainwashed teenagers were sacrificed for such a brutal man. Its sad that many innocent people fall into his trap. Of course, the countries which provided support, shelter, and sympathy to PKK now realize that they have been exhibited by Ocalan in trial. Even a certain Lord who received 40.000 pound sterlin from PKK for their propoganda was disclosed by Apo Ocalan. This is money gained through narcotic trade and use of force. There must be other files he disclosed. He is scraed and wants to save his own soul. What a leader ? He deserves to be hanged. Alexander De Ruit

Thank you for your works for Kurdisran. Bravo.:-) My city is Ventimiglia, Italy every day men of Kurdistan go to France. Sorry, no english. Michele Ornella .

Date: June 25, 1999

You asked where kurds came from,its answer is cool: they came from middle asia with Turks,you see how turks and kurds are close nations,and brothers?..sincerely

Submitted by: RickoDate: June 23, 1999Subject: answer to confused

Yo! i am confused about the issue,if turks really torture kurds,what on earth was the ex-president (Turguth ozal)was a kurd?! sincerely and wishing pkk stop those killings for the benefit of all kurds.

Is somebody listen or just talking? I repeat my question, I need more info. Could someone tell me about Kurdish nation, I would like to know more about history of this people.Where they came from? Why are kurdish in many countries like Turkey, Iran,Iraq, Syriya... Where is their original land?And how is their style of life? Thanx

I am a turk! I have a lot of kurdish friends and we accept each other and the most important thing: we respect each other!! But most of my friends are muslims! I think a lot of people don't know, that most of kurds are sunni muslims!!! When we talk about the kurds, we have to know, that these muslim kurds never will accept terrorists like Apo as their leader!!!

We are sick and tired of all the trouble these Greeks, Kurds and the company cause in Europe. Thats enough, huh ?

Submitted by: Emilio ZanobettiDate: June 13, 1999Subject: Enough

Kurds should blame themselves not Greeks. Greece has done
more than enough. If Kurds was serious and hardworking they
could have succeeded. What else Greece could do for them ?
We did a lot. But Kurds were not men enough. They did not have
courage to fight. They instead attacaked all Greek Embassies
and Consulates. It is true that Greek Government mishandled
the Ocalan affair. It looks like we are responsible for the
arrest of their leader. We lost so much face in Europe. Three
ministers were resigned. It is true that in Kenya Turkish secret
service picked up Mr Ocalan so easly that we are sorry but
they couldnt arrange a safe haven in Europe. If PKK was so
much welcome in Europe Why didnt they arrange an asylum? In
Italy the chief was more than a month. No Italians kicked him
out Germans didnot want him. Dutch even refused the plane to
land. Belgians flew their F 16 s to push Ocalan's plane not
to enter their air space. Germany could have extradited him
but refused. Afterall PKK mislead their boss. PKK European
team is responsible. We did out or best. They massed up the
whole thing. Now we have to answer Turkish accusations. This
is another Kurdish stupidity. They are so much fighting among
themselves what can we do? PKK European team mist answer now.
They did not want Ocalan in Europe because their set up would
be disturbed. They did not help Ocalan. They were afraid their
interests would be lost. Yes, now we Greeks must answer the
Turkish blame - support to terrorism. Thats what the kurds
are actually bandits. Nothing more. They provved that by destroying
all the Greeek Embassies. Just look at the damage at the Hague
Embassy. Kurds are barbarian bandits.

Newruz does not mean "new sun" but it actually means "new
day". May be same thing. It is a traditional annual festivities
celebrated all over the Turkic Republics of Central Asia. Ouzbekistan,
Krygistan, Kazakhistan, Turkmenistan and Aserbaychan. Therefore,
it is not "kurdish" in any way, shape or form. It is a traditional
Turkish custom to celebrate the spring. In Turkey it is also
celebrated--what the Turks call hidirellez--in May. Earlier
the kurdish terrorists tried to abuse this day for their own
purposes. While celebrating they attacked the people all around,
burned tires etc. One or two demonstrations may have been banned
for public order. Since then, it is celebrated all over Turkey
too. So it is not and it was not banned. Furthermore, it is
a tradition of Turkic origins of Central Asia and not linked
to any local tribes in Mesopotamia. They must have adopted
it later.

The map that you seem to bother to draw has nothing to do with the reality. Alice in wonderland maps will take you nowhere. Stop kidding yourselves and do not use us-the kurds for your imperialistic aims. It is enough. You have been doing this during the history. Kurds will no longer be your "tools" your pions to be used for your interests. This, you have done in 1925 against Turkey in order to get Mousoul and Kerkukh- and you have sucked the oil by your imperialist companies. It is so clear that we have not taken our lessons from history. UK imperialism this time worked together with Assad, Saddam and Iranian reactionaarries. It is always kurds used in these grand scenarios. Puh, you have submitted a may in 1945 so what ? Buy a local map from gas station. The arrest of the top terrorist should enlighten people. Why dont you make a web site for his disclosures: who helped him-he says used him. Drug trade, terrorism, murders of children women innocent people..You support this murderer in the name of kurdish interests ? Get out liars.

Ocalan is a farce. He is shaking and so much afraid of death !! What a leader ! Degrading man:

Submitted by: Perviz HatemiDate: June 11, 1999Subject: So called leader

Why is it that the fate of Northern Iraqi people is not treated in your pages ? Are they better off ? Their status recognized ? What about Syrian kurds ? or Iranian regime and pressures on their people ? Are you guys simply ignoring all these problems ?

Submitted by: Rami KadarDate: June 11, 1999Subject: What about Iraq, Syria and Ir

To the attention of pastor who travelled in 1994 as a member
of Dutch/Belgian delegation. The town you refer to, that is
to say Adana is a Turkish town. Neither Arab nor Kurdish. If
you are really a pastor you should not be so ignorant. Besides
what kind of "delegation" is that ? The term is also wrong.
You were part of a group of people not delegation. You should
open your eyes and ears and follow the trial of Ocalan. May
be he will also talk about you. Even a British Lord Avebury
visited him says Ocalan. For the propoganda this human rights
lover Lord received 40.000? according to the Court reports.
How much did you receive from that drug money ? Mike Walter

Could someone tell me about Kurdish nation, I would like to know more about history of this people. Where they came from? Why are Kurdish in many countries like Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syriya... Where is their original land? And how is their style of life? Thanx

Submitted by: ConfusedDate: June 9, 1999Subject: Kurdish People

Are those supporters of PKK ashamed of themsevlves now ? Abdullahi Ocalan APO admits all the crimes, narcotics trade and distortion. So he is not a Che Guevera but an ordinary criminal. Murderer of grand numbers and proportions. A brutal animal not even a human being... He must be congragulated as he cheated so many. All those countries supported him UK and BBC support? He admitted in the trial. He even said UK usd the Kurds back in 1925 too.. Talk Apo talk.. Yes, talk more give more details.

Greece has betrayed our cause and handed over our leader to Turkey. Greeks are so clumsy and so stupid that they could not handle this affair. Was it intentional that they turned over Mr. Ocalan the President ? It appears so. If not they are so clumsy and so stupid that they cannot be trusted. After all the encouragements to step us from the back is really a cowardly act. GREECE WILL PAY FOR THIS SELL OVER AND RELEVANT GREEK AGENTS WILL BE PUNISHED BY THE PKK IN A NEAR FUTURE. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO PRESIDENT ATHENS WILL BE ON FIRE. NOT ONLY ATHENS BUT ALL GREEK TARGETS. WE THOUGHT GREEKS SUPPORTED US AS A NOBLE ACTION. NO THEY PUSHED US TO FIRE. KURDS HATE GREEKS NOW AND OUR REVENGE WILL BE UNFORGIVING. WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN GREEK CHARACTER AND HONOUR MUCH BETTER. HUNDREDS OF OUR YOUTH WENT INTO SUICIDE ACTIONS AFTER BEING TRAINED IN ATHENS. DEFINETELY RELEVANT INFORMATION ON THE GREEK CRIMES WILL BE DISCLOSED TO UNITED NATIONS AUTHORITIES. THIS TIME RESIGNATION OF THREE MINISTERS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH

Ignorant people are the worst enemy of the truth. One of your previous contributors wrote that the so called Kurdistan should be independent a g a i n as if there was ever an independent country under that name. No there was Never Never an independent land, state or country. As it looks from Northern Iraq there will never be one as they continue fighting each other. There are so many different tribes that they cannot agree among themselves. They dont have a common language either. Apparrently there are four different versions or divisions of the language from Zaza, sormanci etc. I have an idea why not have an independent state for American indians ? Apaches etc.. So much injustice was done to them. After all still they live in "reservations" even their fishing rights were not recognized. My suggestion to the organizers of this WEB site : Close down this site. It is an unrealistic and lost cause. And do not disturb the kurds. Dont use them for your own aims. That is the most unfair thing : Dont put these people into danger for your damn interests. All right ? You have supported the PKK and the so called bandits gathering under the title hurdish parliament. Unfair to use this term "parliament" for such narcotics traders, human transporters, gangsters and Mafiosi-kurdiosi.

Submitted by: Hamdullah WanlyDate: June 9, 1999E-mail: Using a friends PCSubject: Understand the turth and sear

Dear Friends, I think you are in a very sad and tragic effort to create a non-existing identity. You should be aware of the fact that there are hundreds of different ethnic groups all over the world and you cannot create states all over the place. There are so many groups which have better case then the kurds and nobody seems to be interested in them. When you refer to Kurdistan one asumes that you are referring to Iranian province with the same name. There are also important number of Kurds in Syria. Their fate in Irak is well known. Alas, a lot of Greek individuals and associations are always refer to Turkey. Wrong address ? Definetely. Greece is playing with fire. They got badly caught with the terrorist Ocalan business. No wonder three ministers resigned. Ocalan admitted all his crimes in the trial. He said he is responsible for killing thousands of innocent people. Where are those countries which supported PKK for so many years ? PKK and APO are terrorists. They should be punished with the most severe penalties. Unfortunately my country Germany has made a mockery of justice and Rechtstaat (rule of law or supremacy of law). They are afraid of possible PKK terrorism and try to influence Turkey one way or another. Germany has serious responsibilty in this matter. After all wasnt it German companies which provided poisionous gases and chamical material to Saddam to kill five thousand kurds in Halepche ? Of course it is not only Bundesrepublik but some other EU member states who treated the terrorist PKK as innocent people. Sad.

Submitted by: Rudiger MunchDate: June 9, 1999Subject: Let us wake up about Terrorism

To WEB master:
Why you don't delete those horrible comments about Turks? What kind of site is this? I'm going to report you for having this kind of racism. I'm a white European, but to Greeks, you are the same shit in Europe or USA. You are not better than Turks!

Submitted by: ConfussedDate: June 9, 1999Subject:

I'm a Kurdish guy from SANLIURFA and I'm proud to say that my two grandfathers fought with Mustafa Kemal Ataturk against you westerners whose grandfathers wanted to invade the proud land we share. Now, you and people like you still have aims on Turkey (THE PROUD LAND WE SHARE), but believe me, you have no chance. As long as the world turns Kurds and Turks will be brothers and live together.

I also have some words for the Kurdish people who have shared their thoughts with us on these page; If you are man enough come and live here, but you can not because you afraid that PKK teror can take your lives. Yes, as the world knows, here (Southeast Turkey) it is not safe for us because, PKK IS THE MURDERER OF THE KURDS!!!!!!! One day these murders will end and Southeast will be richest lands in the whole Middle-East, that day the Kurds and Turks will turn their faces to west and ask them if the blood was enough for their thirst. YOU WESTERNERS STOP SUCKING OUR BLOOD, BECAUSE IN THE WHOLE HISTORY WE FINALLY FOUND A NATION (TURKS) THAT DOESN'T WANT US TO DIE FOR THEIR AIMS. YOURS SINCERLY.

Submitted by: BARANDate: June 7, 1999Subject: Long live the BROTHERHOOD!!!!!

Note from webmaster: If anyone has any information that would be helpful to this visitor, please respond below.

I have question: The name Eivilin Isaak Mehael (don't remember exacly) is Kurdish, Iraqi or Turkish?

Submitted by: ConfusedDate: June 5, 1999Subject:

My opinion of Kurdistan is that it should be an independent country again. We are humans and should at least be able to speak our own language in our country.

The United Nations said that all peoples should have rights but I think they forgot our's. We should have the right to vote for our goverment like every other country in the world. Why do we have to severly suffer the consequences of bad goverments, ruling and people. All I ask is for FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted by: Nazik. & Nardeen .M.NematDate: June 4, 1999Subject:

VERY WELL DONE....

BUT THERE ARE SOME PICTURES MISSING, THE PICTURES OF THE KURDISH BABIES AND KURDISH WOMEN KILLED BY THEIR OWN "THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS !!" PKK....THE PICTURES OF THE DEAD BODIES OF INNOCENT PEOPLE KILLED BY PKK. THE STORIES OF THE PEOPLE KILLED WHEN A BOMB WAS THROWN IN A SUPERMARKET...

YOUR LEADER HAD APOLOGIZED FOR ALL THOSE ACTIONS AND GAVE HIS SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILIES EFFECTED...WHILE THE BLOOD WAS STILL DRIPING DOWN HIS HANDS....

LETS SEE WHAT YOU FOLLOWERS WILL DO....

BE HONEST

Submitted by: Nazik. & Nardeen .M.NematDate: June 3, 1999Subject: WHAT A SITE

HI

I THINK U R JUST THINKING FROM ONE SIDE. I'M FROM L.A. AND I KNOW LOTS ABOUT TURKISH NATION AND KURDISH PEOPLE. FIRST OF ALL KURDS ARE NOT A NATION. U SHOULD READ MORE HISTORY FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES. THEN NEWROZ IS SOMETHING TURKISH IN REAL. AND HOW CAN U AGREE WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PART SOMEONES COUNTRY. IS IT LOGICAL AND HUMANICAL. U MAN U R JUST A STUPID AS I SEE. I MIGHT SEE WRONG BUT THIS IS WAHT I UNDERSTAND. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY MORE. BUT I DONT THINK U HAVE THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THOSE COZ U R ALREADY SIDED. AND ADANA IS NOT ARAB KURD CITY, THERE R TURKISH PEOPLE, 90%. AND THERE ISNT A LEGAL MAP LIKE U SHOWED. SO DONT BE SILLY AND MAKE A GOOD RESEARCH.

Submitted by: PSYCHO HIPPYDate: June 1, 1999E-mail: psycho_hippy@hotmail.comSubject: WHAT A SITE

Why do PKK kill Kurdish civilians? Kurds have all the rights in Turkey, Turgut Ozal, previous Prime Minister was a Kurd. How come Kurds don't have the same rights as other minorities in Turkey?

Submitted by:Date: May 31, 1999

I wish to remind those supporters of PKK in Germany that they are doing an extreme harm to the Kurdish people. PKK is a terror organization. Can not represent anybody. They killed thousands of ethnic Kurds for their refusal to support the PKK. The ones who support were under threat. It has no base, no support. It is a bloody group.It is time to draw a line against terrorism.

Since September 1980 German authorities imposed visas for Turkish citizens but opened the door for those who claim were Kurds. Now they have grown their baby. They are scared from the possible terror acts. They press Turkey not for their concern for APOstol but for the PKK terror in Germany. Really it is their baby. So called "PROFESSOR" UDO STEINBACH and his team at the Auswartigesamt. Intentionally those German smart guys increased the Kurdish people by opening their arms through political asylum. You just had to claim you were under prosecution. This is how all these allegations grown. Thank to German doctrinaires there is what they call Kurdish problem. They intentionally grown this. We French watched except our Madame Mitterand with her boy friend Kendal of Kurdish "Institute" in Paris had a love affair noit only for this Casanova lover but his so called cause.. Paris has played into the hands of Germans. Germany has a wider strategic targets. They do not wish to have a strong Turkey under US influence.

It was interesting to read the comments of Greek, Armenian and some Arab fanatics displaying their anti-Turkish feelings. Such a hatred! It is sad that human beings may be so narrow minded and their instincts so low. No wonder many think Turks are such a noble people. Afterall please do not forget that Kurds have been used by foreigners for their own aims. Shah of Iran used them against Irak. Iraki governments used them against Syria and Iran. Syria used them against Irak the Baaash Party rivalry. British used them against Turks back in 1925 in order to get Mousoul and Kherkukh. Indeed once they got the area they dumped the Kurds. Kurds should not allow themselves to be used as pions.

PKK and terror is it an internal problem of Turkey ? No, it is an organized action by Syria, Irak and Iran... Strange strange- all the three are regarded as terrorist states by the US State Department. Take a look at the long borders Turkey has with these countries. Infiltration is easy. What about Greece ? Even Pangalos and Secret Service and Interior Ministers had to resign. They were caught red-handed in aiding and abetting the terrorists.

As an American who lived in Turkey some years I can tell you the Kurds are the dominating element in Turkey. Look at the most popular singers ; Ibrayim Tatliysess and the rest. How come they are so popular ? Kurds can become President of the Republic - Turgut Oyzal for example- speaker of the Parliament Mr Chetin, take a look at all the Parliamentarians not only from southeast but many deputies from istanbul, Ankara are of Kurdish origin. There is no discrimination against any race or religious group in Turkey-originally there was some against the Bahais and Jehovas Witnessses Now that is also cleared.

Yes Turks are bad... in puiblic relations. Information-not even propaganda. They are so proud and self confident they dont bother ! Look at all the hatred in Greek Armenian messages here. Really full of hatred and I show it to my Turkish friends, they only laugh. Its childish they say. Yes, they must indeed really be a noble people if not purely stupid for not making their case more well known. They sit and expect foreigners to learn themselves. And all these so called Kurdistan pages are so wrong, so much full of propaganda which has no base whatsoever that Turkish people should be more active.

Your title, to start with is wrong. There is no country with that name. In Iran there is a province of some sort.

I have many Kurdish friends in Turkey who live happily in every part of Turkey, fully integrated into the society and they are embarassed by the PKK terror.

It is highly unfortunate that you have such a distorted presentation concerning Kurds and demonstrate a classic victimization show. Yours does not seem to be a bona fide information site but a propaganda instrument. Thats all of its worth.

Having been to Turkey, I'm ashamed to admit that I had no idea of the richness of the Kurdish history and people. As well as the many injustices which I certainly cannot imagine living through. They truly are in the Shadow of History. Thank you for opening my eyes.

Submitted by: R. Aboul ElaDate: May 25, 1999Subject: Comment

al salaam elekum from aslan chopoorian an armenian of the diaspora . i wish both kurds and armenians the restoration of their patrimony but without the official and mutual cooperation of our worthy communities our lofty goals will never be acheived. the armenian and kurdish causes are one. neither can be solved without the other. as well, neither can acheive their "maximalized demands". please dear kurdish brothers let us "draw the map" if only in the sand with each others needs and each others justice in mind. Let my brothers acknowledge that Van , Mush and Ararat are the inheritence of the Armenian people and as well, let your Armenian brothers revere Diarbekir, Urfa Malatia Hakkiari and the Mosul/Kirkuk region as United Kurdistan. I hope God will give us peace and may we dwell together in peace respect and fraternal love truly yours aslan

Submitted by: krikor aslan chopoorianDate: May 25, 1999

It's nice to see some kurdish sites on internet. thank you for making this page. bye helin

Submitted by: helinDate: May 21, 1999E-mail: helin101@hotmail.com

The biggest mistake is to consider PKK as a representative of whole kurdish commnunity. PKK is a terrorist organization. And if kurdish people support PKK, they can never get their right to define themselves as Kurd. Kurds have to help theirselves by not giving support to PKK. This is only way for them. I believe Kurds should have their own school, language, newspaper. But the way to get them is not terorism and especially PKK.

Submitted by: Has no importanceDate: May 17, 1999Subject: PKK is not rep. of Kurdish

Date: May 17, 1999

armenians and kurds are arm in arm.what an interesting coincidence.We know everything that you think.But you have no chance to establish a state.when we will be the Great Turkiye ,from Kosovo to China we will .uck all of you

Submitted by: Atilla HunDate: May 17, 1999

hi i am a 14 year old girl from australia i am into pop music and i ave 2 brothers i have blonde hair blue eyes and 5'6" and if any one wants to email me my address is below

Thankyou for making this site. I found it really interesting and I enjoyed looking atthe different photos of Kurds. I think that Suddam Hussain is a bit of a freak. How could any one be so cruel as to kill young people? I recenty read a fictional book, based on the stories of Refugee Kurds called "Kiss the Dust". THANKS AGAIN.

Greeks, remember that in Smyrna/Izmir, the "genocide" (historians call it war) was started by Greeks who tried to invade Turkey. It is very natural, that a country defends itself. If you kick a dog, do not be suprised if it bites you. I have read many Greeks schoolbooks, and I could not find anything that was not objective about history. History is not black and white despite Greeks are taught to think so. Also, if you do some research on Byzantium, you notice, that only its last 100 years were 'Greek' (language, religion, culture). Before that it was a mixture of several different nations, not just Greeks. Any emperor would have taken it as an insult to be called Greek, since the empire had tens of other nations too. I recommend to read a book by John Julius Norwich: A Short History of Byzantium. I hope the PKK stops violence and cuts this vicious circle. I am for everyone's basic rights, but I cannot understand what killing innocent people on both sides has to do with freedom. Also, to not let people claim that I am manipulated, let me add that I have a BA in history, Greek AND Turkish languages as being minors. I am from neither side, so I believe I have a more objective view on these matters.

ZHTW TO KOURDISTAN! ZHTW H ELLADA! LONG LIVE KURDISTAN! LONG LIVE GREECE! GREEKS AND KURDS ARE BROTHERS UNTIL THE END. THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY WILL PAY WITH BLOOD FOR THEIR ATROCITIES AGAINST THE GREEKS, KURDS, ARMENIANS, etc... I SPIT ON THE MEMORY OF KEMAL ATATURK, ONE OF THE MOST HORRIFIC TERRORISTS IN HUMAN HISTORY. WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANOTHER GENOCIDE LIKE SMYRNA AND ARMENIA. I DO THE SIGN OF THE CROSS, AND ASK GOD TO PUT HIS HAND ON HELP THE PKK AND THE OPPRESED KURDS TO HELP LIBERATE THEIR HOMELAND AND HAVE A NATION AT LAST. I PRAY TO SEE THE DAY WHEN ONCE AGAIN THE GOLDEN FLAG OF BYZANTIUM WILL BE RAISED NEXT TO THE AGIA SOPHIA. SO,I MAY PRAY IN MY RELIGION'S GREATEST CATHEDRAL, JUST LIKE MY ANCESTORS DID IN THE PAST WHEN THEY WERE FREE. MAY JESUS CHRIST, MY SAVIOR, SPREAD HIS LOVE AND POWER OVER KURDISTAN. -----THE RIGHTEOUS ALWAYS EVENTUALLY OVERCOME-----

Submitted by: Kostas M.Date: March 27, 1999Subject: Greek Support of the Opressed

I dont know if KURDISTAN will ever form or not, since it's possability is being in the hands of the West.I am a Kurd myself and would hope to see KUDISTAN form. I would truely like to thank Susan for forming a site that really shows and keeps the Kurdish spirit, art and culture.It was hard to explain anything about the kurds but is much easier now because of this site. For all you Kurds out there, dont ever forget your ethnicity. If you are Kurd then be damn proud to show it! LONG LIVE THE DREAM FOR A PEACEFUL AND INDEPENDENT KURDISTAN

Submitted by: kaka_S.B.Date: March 24, 1999Subject: KURDISTAN

Why you people are so hostile?? I live half of my time in Istanbul, the rest in the US and in Finland. In Turkey, I live in a Turkish family. Next year I will study Modern Greek in the UK - so the problem is very near me. Don't you PKK-supporters realise that by bombing and supporting PKK you will not accomplish anything positive? The Turkish government will just hate you more. Because of your hostility, I have to be afraid to go to my favourite places in Istanbul. This annoys me a great deal. I have nothing to do with your war or independence, so stop bombing innocent people. What about my Turkish friends? They have nothing to do with the problem either. None of them have gone to the army or even voted... why do you punish them? My country went through similar independence fight with Russia, but we never teased ordinary Russian people. We just attacked the politicians - afterall, they are the ones who decide over these things. And we got our freedom. Not by ridiculous attacks and murders like you do, but by real deeds (it took us 100 years but it was worth waiting for). And you Greeks: what is your problem? I love your country as much as Turkey. I know your language and I will live there in a couple of years. Do you really think your behaviour is reasonable? It seems that you just want to piss Turkey off. You don't care about human rights - not really. Look at you annual GDP and see that you spend more money on weapons than social welfare. And where do you guys get your money from? From the EU = a part of it is my tax money. I think you are just afraid that EU takes Turkey and they get your defense money...so that about your human rights... go to see a mental hospital in Leros and talk about human rights in GREECE... There 3 year old children are tied to bed for the rest of their lives because they have down syndrome (they are defined as 'lunatics'). Go to Thessaloniki and meet the Macedonian (yes, that country DOES exist) students who got arrested and beaten because they used their own language... yep, I think you Greeks really cannot afford talking about human rights. For you Kurds I want to say one more thing. You do deserve to have rights for your own language. In Finland there are 4,7% Swedes and EVERY Finn knows Swedish, it is compulsory. Just have peaceful ways to get your rights, that is what we did. I totally understand you, but please, do not punish people who have nothing to do with the problem. Go to the decicion makers - not us. Also, have you ever thought of how painful it is for Turks this war? Many people from BOTH sides die, it is not just you suffering. And for Asli, if you want to find a book to study Kurdish, you will find it from Istanbul. Go to Sisli and check the bookstores, I found these books from three different stores. I would like someone to tell me more about Leyla Zana. What actually happened???

Submitted by: ReetaDate: March 16, 1999Subject: For all of you...

To Whom It May Concern, I know probably this will never be published, but I would like to give you a reall life time lesson. Every history in life has two sides, does anybody ever listen the Turkish version of this story, yes, you put this page together, but where is the other side, where is the Turkish peoples sufferings, cryings, lossess. Do you have any idea how many marters we gave over this stupid , idiodit affair. My country never have this many marter cemetry before, now where ever you go , you will see people crying. Because kurds killed their sons, fathers, daughters, babys. I personly cried becase they killed my father. He was an Turkish officier, pilot ,and national hero, but do not worry he was an eagle on the sky's now he is a blood in my vains. As long as I survive I will fight for what Ataturk and people like my dad fight over. There is so many other minority groups in Turkey, and none of these groups are problems exept kurds. The world should understand we are all solid one peace, can not be divided. You do not like it, leave my country allone. Sincerely,

Hello susan, I cant think of any words to thank you anough,I just want to tel you, You did what any human with a haert would do, You have seen the problem and relized how important to bring it befor the world and put the time and the efort to do so. MANY MANY THANKS I am a kurdish man that was born in Jordan, My father was born in Jordan too. My grand father ran a way from Kurdistan after the turks kiled his father and hes family he ran with his sester and cousin to serya left his sester there and went to soudia arabia with his cuosin and after that he went to Jordan to live there get married and have children, this is a story like thousands other storys, My father and his sesters and brothers did not know any of there family not even the langueg, But they kept the last name as (AL-Kurdi) wich means (the Kurdish), We well keep this name and look forward to a free Kurdistan, BIJI AZADI KURDISTAN********LIVE FREE KURDISTAN

Hello Susan: Finally I am able to reach you. Your book about Kurdistan is the best documentary so far Kurds have. I love your web site as well. I think main page should have a choice about history, culture and social life of Kurds. Keep in touch. Best wishes and good luck. Ali

First of all i am not kurdish girl. I am turkish but I have lots of kurdish friends especially I have got kurdish boyfriend whose name is MUSA.i believe that we can live together if we can understand eachother and respect eachother.we need more respect and love. Turkey is big enough to live happily.I am in Newyork now and I heard the news about OCALAN. I dont want to talk about this topic. I have got question to you. If you can help me.I want to learn kurdish language but i couldnt find any book inTurkey. Can I find in NY?AND I want to learn about kurdish culture more.All I want to say ;we were friends , we are friends and we will be friends.AND I only dont understand why you want to separate Turkey on map??we have got one country that we share.

Submitted by: asliDate: February 17, 1999E-mail: poemee@yahoo.comSubject: being a friend

Wrighting down my thoughts will not make any difference in the eyes of west countries. You have your own map in your mind with closed eyes to reality. While we were living together and sharing our goods amoung us, you thought hostility to our kurd friends. Result is 35.000 martry. Most of them was children and aged woman. Who has right to kill a baby, sleeping in the creddle for the reason her/his parents didn't give their foods to terrorists. Shame on you. I would expect you to put pictures of children killed with the order of OCALAN who you honor. In Turkey we will not execute him. You know what we'll do. Just make him explain which countries had him to put diversity between two friends. And you, who always want to put diversity in our land, printing maps by yourself to try to create diversity amoung us, but you must know that thousands of years we own our land where kurdistan never had been present. In the history we suffered crusades, invades. In the near future four country had tried to capture Turkey. You must better know what happend. Please leave us alone, we know how to live together. Please, you readers do not believe this kind of people, if you want to learn reality please come to Turkey so that you can spit on people who want to see two brother as an enemy.

Submitted by: MURDERER NEVER HAS RIGHTDate: February 17, 1999E-mail: TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW A MANSubject: KILL A BABY IN THE CREDDLE

FEBUARY 16TH 1999 WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS A "BLACK" DAY NOT ONLY IN KURDISH BUT ALSO IN WORLD HISTORY.OTSALAN APPREHENDEND BY THE TURKISH INTELLEGENCE...IN A JUST WORLD TURKEY SHOULD AND WOULD HAVE BEEN CONDEMNED...UNFORTUNATELY, IN OUR WORLD ECONOMIC INTERESTS SEEM TO DICTATE THE WAY PEOPLE AND NATIONS IN GENERAL ARE PERCEIVED; THUS, TURKEY, A NATION WHICH VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS REPEATEDLY IS PRAISED AND SUPPORTED BY THE POWERFUL NATIONS OF THE "FREE", AS THE LIKE TO CALL THEMSELVES, WORLD.WHAT HYPOCRITISM.THE KURDS, 30 MILLION PEOPLE WHITHOUT A COUNTRY SINCE TURKEY TOOK THEIR LAND, CANNOT FIND JUSTICE. I WIIL JUST QUOTE AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S 1997 ANNUAL REPORT : "TORTURE CONTINUED TO BE WIDESPREAD IN POLICE STATIONS AND GENDARMERIES IN TURKEY,RESULTING IN AT LEAST 11 DEATHS IN CUSTODY.SCORES OF PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCES IN CIRCUMSTANCES SUGGESTING THEY HAD BEEN EXTRAJUDICIALLY EXECUTED.ARMED OPPOSITION GROUPS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN 40 DELIBATE AND ARBITRARY KILLINGS". UNTIL WHEN WILL THE POWERFUL NATIONS IGNORE THE STRUGGLES OF THE OPPRESSED FOR JUSTICE AND FREEDOM? UNTIL WHEN WILL THEY SUPPORT THE OPPRESSORS,THE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS,THE MERE CRIMINALS...? ENOUGH...TURKEY SHOULD BE CONDEMNED.JUSTICE SHOULD PREVAIL !!! FREEDOM TO OTSALAN ! FREEDOM TO THE KURDS!! THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE FREE IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY!!!

Dear Susan, I am very much interested in Kurdish affairs internationally. I would greatly appreciate if you could enlighten me about the role of \\zoroastianism (Zarthushtian) which could play any impotant role in the \\\\\kurdish community worldwise, & whether there is any significant role that the Zoroastrians can contribute towards your noble aims of consolidating the permanent state of Kurdistan. Many thanks & god bless to Kurds & their country. Hormuzd H Shekhdar

I am kurd from Finland. I was born in Armenia. I felt very happy looking at your site. During the Soviet regime we were isolated from our nation and homeland. We were not able to know what was going on in kurdistan. Our only source was a 5-hour Kurdish language dayly radio program brodcasted by Armenia Radio.

We were very eager to see what Kurdistan looks like? From my childhood onword I had a dream to see my native language prosper. To see my own nation with its own history and culture. My dreams are coming true. Being in Europe I noticed we are alive. We will survive forever. Our country will be built and we will have our own scools. A lot of work has been done. We have our own Tv station (MEDTv)which is very appreciated, as well as multiple newspapers and Internet sites. I encorage you to continue this thought job... with regards Jiin Mstoi

Hi Susan I continue to enjoy the book. I just found a photograph on page 109 of my grandfather and his 3 brothers. His name is Faizola Khan Amiry, his brothers are Haji Shahab, Mohamad Hussein Khan and Sheikh Ismail. The photo was taken in a village called Bardazard, near Bookan, owned by 2 of the brothers Faizula khan and Mohamad Hussein khan. Thank you again for a beautiful book. Sincerely yours, Parwez London

CONGRATULATIONS!...This search will be accepted as a great
step for Kurdish Reality. We are so effected to meet such a
wonderful project that no words can explan our feelings. Best
Wishes! Thanks again for not hiding anything!

Submitted by: EVERYTHING
FOR PEACEDate: January 8, 1999

Great site! But not so easy to read, and I think you'd better write a short and clear history of Kurdistan in the first page. I think you should also answer to the terrible nessages young Turkish write you. Good luck!